Imaging method

Abstract

A tissue imaging method of imaging a target tissue including: providing a plurality of hardware electrodes; sending and receiving electrical signals using the plurality of hardware electrodes to produce measurement data; selecting a virtual electrode model, where each the virtual electrode includes two or more hardware electrodes; processing the measurement data using the virtual electrode model to provide a processed data output; and reconstructing an image using the processed data output.

1 . A tissue structure imaging method comprising:
 receiving a first set and a second set of electrical field measurement data measured by respective first and second in-body electrodes from positions on respective first and second sides of the tissue structure; and   generating an image of said tissue structure using said first and second sets of electrical field measurement data;   wherein the positions on the first side and the second side are spatial locations with the tissue structure between them, and wherein there is, for each spatial location, a surface of the tissue exposed to it across a fluid medium, and the exposed surfaces each have a non-overlapping portion comprising at least 20% of their surface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating the image comprises transforming measurements to locations under a constraint that the two sets of electrical field measurements are of different sides of the same tissue structure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the exposed surfaces are on lines of sight from each of the positions on the first side and the second side. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the lines of sight meet at 180°. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each line of sight defines a straight path including the spatial location and the tissue structure, and passing through a medium without the straight path penetrating through or into a solid structure other than the tissue structure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measurements collected from both sides of the tissue structure comprise measurements indicative of currents applied to the first electrode and voltage measurements by the second electrode; and measurements indicative of currents applied to the second electrode and voltage measurements by the first electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating comprises solving the inverse problem to produce an image of the tissue structure using the measurement data, including comparing differences in measurement data obtained from the positions on the first and second sides to constrain the solution of the inverse problem. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a respective straight path from each of the first and second electrodes to the tissue structure passes through a fluid medium without the straight path penetrating through or into a solid structure, and wherein the generating comprises using this positioning as a constraint on the solution of the inverse problem. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the generating the image comprises generating a respective first location cloud and second location cloud for locations of portions of the tissue structure using the first and second sets of electrical field measurement data, and then combining the first location cloud and second location cloud to generate the image. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the combining comprises averaging locations of corresponding features within the first and second location clouds. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the combining comprises discarding at least one feature present in one of the first location cloud and the second location cloud, but not shown in the other. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 positioning the first in-body electrode on a first side of the tissue structure and the second in-body electrode on a second side of the tissue structure; and   using said electrodes to collect measurement data of one or more electrical fields passing through said tissue structure, the measurement data comprising the first set and the second set of electrical field measurement data.   
     
     
         13 . The tissue structure imaging method according to  claim 12 , comprising positioning a third electrode on a third side of said tissue structure. 
     
     
         14 . The tissue structure imaging method according  claim 12 , wherein said first electrode and said second electrode are both part of a same imaging tool. 
     
     
         15 . The tissue structure imaging method according to  claim 12 , wherein said positioning includes positioning a first set of electrodes on said first side and a second set of electrodes on said second side. 
     
     
         16 . The tissue structure imaging method according to  claim 15 , wherein said first set of electrodes and said second set of electrodes are both parts of a same imaging tool. 
     
     
         17 . The tissue structure imaging method according to  claim 12 , wherein said positioning comprises inserting a portion of a tool with the first electrode through the tissue structure. 
     
     
         18 . The tissue structure imaging method according to  claim 12 , wherein the tissue structure is a vascular system valve. 
     
     
         19 . The tissue structure imaging method according to  claim 12 , wherein the tissue structure is a heart valve. 
     
     
         20 . The tissue structure imaging method according to  claim 12 , comprising using said image to guiding placement of a device with respect to the tissue structure. 
     
     
         21 . The tissue structure imaging method according to  claim 20 , wherein the tissue structure is a cardiovascular valve and said device is a valve clip. 
     
     
         22 . The tissue structure imaging method according to  claim 21 , wherein said valve clip comprises one or more of said electrodes. 
     
     
         23 . The tissue structure imaging method according to  claim 21 , wherein a delivery device for said valve clip comprises one or more of said electrodes. 
     
     
         24 . The tissue structure imaging method according to  claim 12 , comprising generating an electrical field at a volume including a volume of the tissue structure; wherein said measurement data comprises features of said electrical field affected by the tissue structure. 
     
     
         25 . The tissue structure imaging method according to  claim 24 , wherein said generating an electrical field comprises generating at least three electromagnetic fields, where said fields have crossing orientations. 
     
     
         26 . The tissue structure imaging method according to  claim 25 , wherein said fields have different frequencies. 
     
     
         27 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A tissue imaging method of imaging a target tissue comprising:
 providing a plurality of hardware electrodes;   sending and receiving electrical signals using said plurality of hardware electrodes to produce measurement data;   selecting a virtual electrode model, where each said virtual electrode includes two or more hardware electrodes;   processing said measurement data using said virtual electrode model to provide a processed data output; and   reconstructing an image using said processed data output.   
     
     
         53 - 56 . (canceled)